Your credit score is a vital component in determining your worthiness to take out new lines of financing.
This numerical figure, while not used directly by lenders, is a great indicator as to whether you'll get accepted or not for credit.
How to check your credit score
Obviously you won't know how good or bad your credit score is until you check it.
To do just that, you'll need to sign up to one of the many credit score agencies out there - these will be able to give you a helpful insight into your credit history, as well as that all-important score.
It's important to note that your credit score can vary between these agencies, as they tend to use different scoring models to each other.
- Experian Credit Score provides a score between 0-999
- ClearScore and Equifax offer a range between 0-1000
- TransUnion's range is between 0-850
What is a good credit score?
- Experian considers a positive credit score to be anything over 881
- ClearScore sees anything over 605 as particularly positive
- With Equifax, anything 531 and beyond is seen as solid ground
- Finally, TransUnion marks anything over 720 as positive
What is a bad credit score?
- Anything below 720 is considered poor on Experian
- Below 520 is where ClearScore label a credit rating as poor
- Under 531 is seen as poor on Equifax
- TransUnion see anything below 661 as poor
Why is my credit score low?
If you discover that your credit rating is on the low side, there can be several reasons for this, including:
No Credit History
A limited credit history can lead to a lower credit score, as creditors require this information to assess your creditworthiness.
Too Many New Accounts
Opening multiple accounts within a short period could negatively impact your credit score, especially if you have a limited credit history.
Maxed-Out Credit Cards
Having one or more credit cards that are maxed out or close to their limit can harm your credit score.
Unarranged Overdrafts
Regularly using unarranged overdrafts can affect your credit rating because it shows potential lenders that you struggle to manage your finances.
Missed Payments
Payment history can be a significant factor in calculating your credit score. As such, any late or missed payments can negatively impact your score.
Errors on Your Credit Report
Inaccurate account information or mistaken missed payments can lead to an artificially low credit score. It is crucial that you dispute any errors found on your credit report.
How to improve your credit score
Improving your credit score takes time and commitment, but be very much worth it in the long run - it can be advisable to:
- Check your credit report regularly
- Keep your old accounts open
- Set up payment reminders
- Pay your bills on time
- Consolidate your debts
- Limit new credit applications
What credit score is needed to buy a car?
Technically, there's no minimum credit score needed for car finance approval. However, an especially low score can harm your chances. Your credit score will also impact the interest rate you'll receive.
Those with stronger scores will see lower interest rates, while the opposite is true for those with lower scores, as they'll be seen as a greater risk to lenders.
It’s worth noting that not all lenders are the same. When considering your application, some lenders refer to different credit reference agencies.
For example, if you have a bad score with Equifax but a good score with Experian, you might be accepted by another lender that only uses Experian, even if another lender has declined you.
Here at Stoneacre, we can help you secure the best deal by acting as an intermediary between you and potential lenders. You can check your finance eligibility online without affecting your credit score.
Representative Example
This represents an average of the deals that our customers receive on other vehicles
We are a credit broker and a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders and their finance products. We will provide details of products available, but no advice or recommendation will be made. You must decide whether the finance product is right for you. We do not charge you a fee for our services. Lenders will pay commission to us (either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow) for introducing you to them, this may be calculated in reference to a variable factor such as (but not limited to) the vehicle age, your credit score and the amount you are borrowing. Different lenders may pay different commissions for such introductions. Offers available to everyone over the age of 18, subject to credit approval.